Zytiga-Abiraterone Acetate

Abiraterone Acetate
(Zytiga)
Zytiga is a prescription medicine that is used along with prednisone. Zytiga is used to treat men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (prostate cancer that is resistant to medical or surgical treatments that lower testosterone) that has spread to other parts of the body and who have received treatment with docetaxel.

Zytiga is not for use in women or children.

Who should not take Zytiga?

Do not take Zytiga if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Zytiga may harm your unborn baby.

Women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not touch Zytiga without protection, such as gloves.

Before taking Zytiga

Before you take Zytiga, tell your healthcare provider if you:

have heart problems

have liver problems

have a history of adrenal and or pituitary problems

have any other medical conditions

plan to become pregnant. See “Who should not take Zytiga?”

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Zytiga passes into your
breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take Zytiga or breastfeed. You should not do both. See “Who should not take Zytiga?”

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Zytiga can interact with many other medicines.
You should not start or stop any medicine before you talk with the healthcare provider that prescribed Zytiga.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take Zytiga?

Do not stop taking your prescribed dose of Zytiga or prednisone without talking
with your healthcare provider first.

Take Zytiga on an empty stomach. Do not take Zytiga with food. Taking Zytiga
with food may cause more of the medicine to be absorbed by the body than is
needed and this may cause side effects.

No food should be eaten 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking Zytiga.

Swallow Zytiga tablets whole.

Take Zytiga tablets with water.

Men who are sexually active with a pregnant women must use a condom during
and for one week after treatment with Zytiga. If their sexual partner may become pregnant, a condom and another form of birth control must be used during and for one week after treatment with Zytiga. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about birth control.

If you miss a dose of Zytiga or prednisone, take your prescribed dose the following day. If you miss more than 1 dose, tell your healthcare provider right away.

Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for side effects.

Zytiga side effects

Zytiga may cause serious side effects including:

High blood pressure (hypertension), low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) and fluid retention (edema). Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of the following symptoms:

dizziness

fast heartbeats

feel faint or lightheaded

headache

confusion

muscle weakness

pain in your legs

swelling in your legs or feet

Adrenal problems may happen if you stop taking prednisone, get an infection, or are under stress.

Liver problems. Your healthcare provider will do blood test to check your liver before treatment with Zytiga and during treatment with Zytiga.

The most common side effects of Zytiga include:

joint swelling or pain

muscle aches

hot flushes

diarrhea

urinary tract infection

cough

irregular heartbeats

urinate more often than normal

need to get up at night to urinate

heartburn

cold like symptoms

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does
not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of Zytiga. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.